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Chapter XVIII — ZONING REGULATIONS

18-33 DESIGN REVIEW.

Clearlake Zoning Code · 2026-07 edition · updated 2026-07-07 · Clearlake

18-33.010 Purpose and Intent.

Consistent with the Clearlake General Plan, the Design Review Committee is hereby established for the purpose of review of new development, signs and related community appearance changes to enhance the design characteristics in all neighborhoods within the City of Clearlake. (Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

18-33.020 Application Forms and Fees.

Projects which are subject to design review shall require submittal of a complete application, in accordance with information requirements checklists maintained by the Director. Application review and process shall be subject to payment of fees in accordance with the City’s fee schedule to defray the City’s cost to process applications. (Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

The Clearlake Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 286-2026, passed April 2, 2026.

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Ch. XVIII Zoning Regulations | Clearlake Municipal Code

18-33.030 Procedures.

The City Council shall, by resolution, establish and maintain procedures for implementing design review in accordance with the Zoning Code. (Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

18-33.040 Affordable Housing Development Applications.

Certain qualifying housing projects shall be processed in a manner in accordance with Government Code Sections 65903, 65913, 65943 and 65950. This provision shall remain in effect for the terms prescribed by the Government Code and as described in Section 18-19.340. (Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

18-33.050 Design Review Committee.

The City Council shall appoint a Design Review Committee consisting of two (2) Planning Commissioners. A third member shall consist of the Community Development Director. Terms of office and duties are provided in the design review procedures in accordance with Section 18-33.030. (Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

18-33.060 Findings.

All projects subject to design review shall be designed consistent with the Design Review Manual. Decisions regarding projects that are subject to design review must include findings of consistency that the project is consistent with the Design Review Manual. (Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

18-33.070 Design Review Manual.

The City Council shall, by resolution, establish and maintain a Design Review Manual consisting of a planning document for guidance to the City decision makers, property owners, merchants, real estate interests, architects, designers and building contractors in designing new development and signs related to community appearance changes in the City of Clearlake to carry out the purpose of design review. (Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

18-33.080 Conditions of Approval.

Decisions pertaining to projects that are subject to design review may include conditions to assure that they are designed consistent with the Design Review Manual. (Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

The Clearlake Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 286-2026, passed April 2, 2026.

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Ch. XVIII Zoning Regulations | Clearlake Municipal Code

18-33.090 Requirements for and Compliance With Use Permits.

Use permits which involve appearance impacts on the City may also be subject to design review approval. (Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

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▸ Contents — Clearlake Zoning Code
Clearlake Zoning Code
  1. ▸ Chapter XVIII — ZONING REGULATIONS
    Overview
    1. 18-1 GENERAL PROVISIONS.
    2. 18-2 ZONES ESTABLISHED – ZONING MAP.
    3. 18-3 RURAL RESIDENTIAL (RR) ZONE.
    4. 18-4 LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (LDR) ZONE.
    5. 18-5 MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (MDR) ZONE.
    6. 18-6 HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (HDR) ZONE.
    7. 18-7 MIXED-USE (MUX) ZONE.
    8. 18-8 DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL MIXED-USE (DC) ZONE.
    9. 18-9 GENERAL COMMERCIAL (GC) ZONE.
    10. 18-10 INDUSTRIAL (IN) ZONE.
    11. 18-11 OPEN SPACE (O) ZONE.
    12. 18-12 SPECIFIC PLAN (SP) COMBINING ZONE.
    13. 18-13 SCENIC CORRIDOR (SC) COMBINING ZONING DISTRICT.
    14. 18-14 AVENUE (AV) COMBINING ZONING DISTRICT.
    15. 18-15 PLANNED DEVELOPMENT (PD) COMBINING ZONE.
    16. 18-16 ADULT ENTERTAINMENT (AE) COMBINING ZONING DISTRICT.
    17. 18-17 COMMERCIAL CANNABIS BUSINESS (CB) AND COMMERCIAL CANNABI…
    18. 18-18 USE REGULATIONS.
    19. 18-19 SPECIAL USES ALLOWED IN SEVERAL ZONES.
    20. 18-20 PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
    21. 18-21 SIGN REGULATIONS.
    22. 18-22 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
    23. 18-23 NONCONFORMING USES.
    24. 18-24 NONCONFORMING LOTS.
    25. 18-25 NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES.
    26. 18-26 GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT REGULATIONS.
    27. 18-27 ZONING AMENDMENTS.
    28. 18-28 USE PERMITS.
    29. 18-29 VARIANCES.
    30. 18-30 DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS.
    31. 18-31 DENSITY BONUSES.
    32. 18-32 ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES.
    33. 18-33 DESIGN REVIEW.
    34. 18-34 REPEAT APPLICATIONS.
    35. 18-35 INACTIVE APPLICATIONS.
    36. 18-36 APPEALS.
    37. 18-37 FEES.
    38. 18-38 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION.
    39. 18-39 RESERVED.
    40. 18-40 NATIVE TREE PROTECTION.
    41. 18-41 CANNABIS PERSONAL CULTIVATION.
    42. 18-42 ABATEMENT OF PUBLIC NUISANCES CREATED BY CULTIVATION OF …
    43. 18-43 COMMERCIAL CANNABIS.
    44. 18-44 ENFORCEMENT.
    45. 18-45 DEFINITIONS.

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